Last spring, state Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) fought for consumers by voting against legislation that would guarantee automatic rate hikes on consumers’ electric bills. Although the bill passed, the Governor vetoed the legislation this summer and today Gordon continued her fight for consumers by voting in support of the veto to prevent the automatic rate increases.

“As I walk door to door in our community, I hear from the residents of this district that worry about paying their utility bills,” said Gordon. “I worry about our seniors and people on fixed incomes, and that’s why I voted against higher electric rates.”

The electric rate hike legislation, Senate Bill 1652, which passed the House and Senate last spring despite objection from Gordon, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, AARP, and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), was vetoed by Governor Quinn earlier this year. Governor Quinn’s veto was overridden in the House Wednesday with a two-thirds majority.

Under current law, any changes in electric rates need to be approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) and go through an eleven month review period before being finalized, with the ICC having oversight of approving rates that are reasonable and just. Senate Bill 1652 removes much of the oversight and review of the ICC, granting utility companies greater power in deciding rate increases which could go into effect yearly.

“As we are still grappling with the effects of this recession, I cannot justify asking struggling families to pay more on their utility bills,” said Gordon. “I will continue to fight to protect the interests of the working families of Illinois.”

For more information, please contact Rep. Gordon’s full-time constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or email her at repjgordon@gmail.com.